Sometimes a glass of wine alone just isn’t enough. Read about my recent hair drama and why I absolutely need to cook with wine tonight.
My Latest Hair Drama and Why I’m Cooking with Wine
Tuesday was one of those days that felt equal parts absurd and infuriating. I don’t mean to complain—real problems exist—but this little saga at the salon felt so first-world it was almost comical. The short version: I walked into the salon hoping for subtle highlights and walked out with fried, straw-like hair and a parking ticket to top it off. By the time I needed to unwind, a glass of wine seemed essential. And if you’re going to open a bottle, why not use some for dinner? Below I weave my hair story together with ideas for cooking with wine so you can sip and savor through life’s mishaps.
The Hair Salon Fiasco
Lately my hair has been a work in progress. I’m 38 and—let’s pretend that’s young—my hair is mostly gray, probably around 75 percent. Premature graying runs in my family, and for years I mostly embraced it. Recently I decided to color it to look more polished. At first I touched up just bits of gray, then I went all in and colored most of it close to my original shade. The main reason I avoided dye for so long was upkeep: darkening gray hair looks great for the first week, then white roots show up and by two weeks it’s noticeable.
To make regrowth less jarring, I booked highlights. I arrived at 10:30 a.m. and planned to leave by 12:30 so I could pick up my son before the two-hour parking limit expired. I assumed the process would be quick. After the bleach had been sitting a while, my stylist checked the color and asked what time I had to go. The lightening wasn’t progressing as fast as she’d hoped. I had to call a friend to pick up my son and wait at the coffee shop next door while the salon put me under heat to speed things up. They sent me out with a salon smock, a towel clipped around my neck, and wet hair streaked yellow to fetch my child. At the car I discovered a $76 parking ticket for staying over two hours. Perfect.
It Got Worse—and Expensive
After that awkward pickup, my son and I went back to the salon so they could apply another layer of color, rinse, and dry me again. I had to collect my older child by 2:40 and ended up a few minutes late. All told I spent FOUR HOURS at the salon. The damage, though, was worse than lost time: my hair came out completely fried. It has the texture and color of straw. I’m trying not to panic; right now it’s soaked in coconut oil while I hope it recovers. I’m scheduled for a keratin treatment on Friday that could restore smoothness—or make things worse. Fingers crossed for silky results.
Cook with Wine, My Loves! 7 Ways to Use Wine in Dinner
After a long day of appointments and chaos, I still had to rush my older son to a doctor, get everyone fed, and get them to bed. I felt drained and a bit defeated. Some nights a single glass of wine will do, but on a day like that I reached for recipes that let me drink and cook with wine—so you can too. Using wine in cooking adds depth, acidity, and aroma to sauces, braises, and desserts. Here are seven inspiring wine-based dishes that pair beautifully with a pour:
Cheese Stuffed Chicken in White Wine Sauce
Skillet Lemon Chicken with White Wine Sauce
Meat Sauce with Red Wine and Mushrooms
Pasta with Artichokes, Sausage, and Sun-dried Tomatoes
Simple Wine Sauce for Steak
Spiced Red Wine Poached Pears
Drunken Cherry Cheesecake Parfaits
Tips for Cooking with Wine
A few simple tips make cooking with wine easy and delicious: choose a bottle you’d enjoy drinking, as the flavor concentrates when reduced; use white wine for lighter sauces, chicken, and seafood, and red wine for rich braises, beef, or tomato-based sauces; deglaze pans with wine to capture caramelized bits and build flavor; and simmer to cook off excess alcohol and intensify the taste. Even a splash can transform a dish.
Now I need to rinse the coconut oil, pour a glass of wine, and decide which recipe to try while I wait to see what the keratin treatment does on Friday. Cheers to small comforts and good food—especially when life gives you fried hair and a parking ticket.
Want more wine inspiration? OK, here you go!